Steve Ballmer Not Sure On How Long He Will Stay As A Microsoft Director

Steve Ballmer stepped down Microsoft’s CEO last month. In a new interview he gave to WSJ, Ballmer has said that he’s not sure how long he’ll stay as a Microsoft director. He said, “It really as much as anything depends on how I see rest of my life playing out,” in an interview last week. Steve Ballmer leaving Microsoft board should surprise everyone given the fact that Steve Ballmer owns about 4% of Microsoft and he calls Microsoft his “child.” He also revealed that he felt “different” to be just a director, and not CEO, during Microsoft’s board meeting as he was quieter in the boardroom than previously.

Ballmer, who turns 58 on Monday, said in the interview he is relishing his first break after more than 33 years at Microsoft. “I have a chance to really think” about what to do next, Ballmer said.

That jibes with his first post-CEO public appearance earlier this month at Britain’s Oxford University, where Ballmer said he wasn’t the type to chill out and play golf. “I get to find some new set of things to be passionate about,” he said at the event. “I’m going to take some time and really figure it out.”

“I didn’t talk like I did when I was CEO,’’ Ballmer added. Speaking of his successor Satya Nadella, Mr. Ballmer said, “Satya is doing a great job.’’